Shot Three
...
"Riaan! Hey bhagwaan, yeh ladka abhi tak so raha hai! Taani sighed entering his room.
"Riaan you better be up in five minutes, you have a flight to catch in two hours!" She pulled the comforter off him making him groan.
"Mom five more minutes please!" He shifted his position to avoid the sun rays falling on him.
"Fine! Keep sleeping! America jaake padhne ki kya jarurat hai? Tum yahin ruko aur mere saath join ho jao." She grinned seeing him getting up with a jerk.
"Nai nai nai. Mujhe shaadiyan organize karne ka koi shawk nahi hai!" He gave her a sullen look.
"Good. Abhi jaldi ready hokar neeche aao. Mein breakfast lagwati hoon." She kissed his forehead and left the room.
"Mom aap airport drop karne nahi aa rahi?" He asked her at breakfast.
"Kisne kahan mein nahi aa rahi?" She raised a brow at him.
"Woh Swayam.." He glanced at his best friend Swayam who was smirking at him.
"You're such a.." Swayam didn't let him complete, "Mujhe gaaliyan baad mein dena abhi jadi karo warna flight miss hojayegi."
Riaan and Swayam were best of friends since childhood and since Swayam's parents didn't live here, he was mostly found at Riaan's place.
...
"Atcha sunn.. passport ticket sab sambhal ke rakha na?" Taani asked Riaan once they reached airport.
"Yes mom! Mom mein America jar aha hoon padhne ke liye. Mujhe lagta hai ab toh mein apna khayal rakh sakta hoon!" He whined like a child.
"Rubbish!" Swayam came to them. "Tera passport aur ticket mere paas hai." Swayam lifted his hand to show it.
"What would I do without you bro!" He said snatching away the passport.
"Grow up!" Swayam rolled his eyes at him.
"Riaan grow up hone se raha!" Taani shook her head at them.
"Tere settle hone ke kya plans hai?" Swayam asked.
"Tu bhi mat shuru ho ja yaar.." Riaan whined.
"Arre mein tere bhale ke liye bol raha hoon! Find a girl and settle down."
"Look Swayam, ladkiyon ko itna seriously nahi lena chahiye. Ladkiyan buses ki tarah hoti hai. Har do minute baad ek aur aayegi agar jyada traffic na ho toh!" Riaan explained his ideology.
"Riaan!" Taani smacked him earning a growl. "Kitni baar tumhe kaha ki mujhe tumhara yeh ladkiyon ke baare mein aisi baatein karna bilkul pasand nahi hai. Har ladki kisi ki maa.."
"Maa hoti hai, kisi ki behen hoti hai. Mein jaanta hoon. Lekin meri behen toh nahi hai na!" Riaan gave a sly smile to Swayam.
"Riaan! Auraton ko respect karna seekho!" Taani tried to put some sense in him.
"Arre kisne kaha ki mein auraton to respect nahi karta? Mein aapko respect karta hoon, Indira Gandhi ko respect karta hoon, Mother Teresa, Mother India, Miss India ooo.." He gave a grin at that thought.
"Riaan!" Taani reprimanded.
"Sorry!" He quickly composed himself.
Taani phone started ringing. She looked at the called id and handed the phone to Riaan.
"Tumhare dad ka phone." She said.
"Yaani ke aapke pati ka phone. Yahi baat aap zara muskuraake bhi keh sakti thi.." he said and excused himself to answer the call.
"Hello! Hey dad.. jee.. I'm all set. Haan passport hain mere paas, what is with you guys man?" Riaan rolled his eyes seeing Swayam and Taani giggle.
He disconnected the call and came back to where they were standing. "Unki baaton se aisa lag raha hai ki unhe aapki yaad aa rahi hai.." He said handing Taani her phone back.
"Inte saalon mein unhone mere liye ek baar bhi call kiya?" She raised her shoulders and continued, "Anyway Riaan, tu in sab baaton se durr hi atcha hai. Apni padhai pe dhyaan de."
"Yes mom padhai!" He said making a big deal out of it.
He hugged Taani and Swayam. "Swayam maa ka khayal rakhega na?"
"Tere yahan rehte huye tu bada rakhta tha!" He taunted.
"Kahin jaane se pehle aisi baatein atchi sound karti hai, maa ka khayal rakhna, etcetera, etcetera!" Riaan chuckled and left after a final good bye.
"Voh theek rahega na?" Taani asked Swayam.
"Aapko uski fikar hai? Mujhe toh wahan ki ladkiyon par taras aa raha hai! Unhe pata nahi unki taraf kya musibat aa rahi hai." Swayam said making Taani laugh
...
"Dad!" Riaan meets Rey at the airport.
"How was the flight son?" Rey hugged him back.
"Arre itni buri thi ki kya batau.." Riaan made a face.
"Kyu?" Rey asked.
"Ek bhi khoobsurat air hostess nahi thi flight mein.." Riaan complained.
"Meine toh pehle hi kahan tha Air India se travel mat karna!" Rey gave him an I-told-you look.
"Oh dad I missed you so much!" Riaan hugged him again.
"Bas bas, abhi chal ya yahin airport pe pada rehna hai?"
They reached home. Rey opened the door and let Riaan in. Riaan was flabbergasted seeing the interiors.
"Wow dad! It's so beautiful. Aapki toh life aish hai! Pehle London, then Paris, then Amsterdam, now New York!" Riaan said looking around.
"Performer hoon, travel karna padta hai.." Rey answered looking a little lost.
"But I must say aapne apne aap ko kya maintain karke rakha hai. Matlab aap mere dad lagte hi nahi!" Riaan complemented.
"A dancer needs to stay fit son!"
After having lunch they were relaxing in the balcony and talking about random things.
"Waise dad, mom theek hai.." Riaan told him.
"Meine pucha nahi tha.." Rey said sipping his drink.
"Phir bhi mujhe batana tha.." Riaan clinked his glass with Rey's.
Rey didn't say anything and Riaan changed the topic.
...
A few days later..
"Mom guess what!" Riaan screamed over the phone.
"Abh kya kiya tune?" Taani asked worried.
"Arre mom thoda toh bharosa rakhiye apne bete pe!"
"Atcha bata, phone kis khushi mein kiya hai?"
"I'm in love!" He grinned.
"Kya!" She was shocked hearing him but composed hearing the truthfulness in his voice. "Jarur koi gori chitti hogi!"
"Nahi she's Indian. Bohot smart hai, very beautiful. And I love her a lot!!"
"I'm so happy.. tujhe finally akal aa gayi!"
"Whatever! Mein aapko baadmein call karta hoon, class ke liye jana hai."
...
Riaan reached home to find his bags thrown outside the house. He started banging the door and called for Rey to open it.
"Dad yeh sab kya hai?"
"Mera ghar koi hotel nahi hai ki jab mann kiya aaye aur jab mann kiya chale gaye!"
"Dad what nonsense is all this?"
"Tum yahan par hote nahi toh mein tumhare bags ghar pe rakh kar kya karu? Yeh bags lo aur jao uss Anjali ke paas."
"Dad mein yahan darwaze se baatein karta hua bohot ajeeb lag raha hoon. At least open the door!" Riaan pleaded.
"Okay.. ek shart par.."
"Kya?"
"Tum mujhe Anjali se milwaoge!"
"Anji ne kal hume lunch pe bulaya hai!"
"Really?" Rey asked opening the door.
"Nahi!" Riaan pushed him and got in.
"Riaan!"
"Okay sorry. Kal hum saath mein lunch karenge. Fine?"
"Yeah cool!"
...
"Hello uncle." Anjali greeted Rey as Riaan escorted her in.
"Uncle? Mein tumhe uncle lagta hoon?" Rey asked.
"Nahi nahi.. aap toh Riaan se bhi young lagte ho." Anjali quickly corrected.
Rey smiled at her while Riaan rolled his eyes.
"Dad stop flirting with her at least!"
Riaan was busy baking apple pie for desert. He being a cook in the making worked a lot for Rey. He was giving Riaan a hard time and exploiting him by making him cook all the time. Anjali was taking to Rey in the study.
"Mera poochna toh nahi banta hai.." Anjali hesitated asking about his relation with Taani.
"Toh na poocho.." He said making her conscious then laughed seeing her tensed face. "Got you! Aao batata hoon.."
Rey led Anjali to the living room and they both settled down for a talk.
"Mein naya naya London se dance mein masters kar ke aaya tha. You know I was part of this very.. glamorous world. Ussi dauran meri Taani se mulakaat hui. Taani ki duniya mere se bilkul alag thi. Woh ek seedhi saadhi, simple girl with a strong mind. Uski yahi quality usse dusron se alag karti thi. Phir humne shaadi karli. Uske baad tum kahan ja rahe ho? Yeh kaun hai? Kya hai? Aise sawaal jo kabhi pooche nahi gaye the uska jawaab dena pad raha tha. Phir ek din inn sawaalon se tang aake mein nikal gaya. Aur iss baar usne kuch poocha nahi, meine kuch bola nahi. Lekin ek baat ke liye I'm very thankful to Taani, usne kabhi Riaan ko humare beech ki doori ka ehsaas hone nahi diya. Yeh sab baatein meine aaj tak Riaan se share nahi ki pata nahi tumse kyu keh raha hoon." Rey wiped the traces of tears in his eyes.
"Ek baar baat karke toh dekhte.." Anjali looked past him and saw Riaan standing with teary eyes.
Rey turned to see Riaan with hurt in his eyes. It reminded him of Taani, when he had left her years back to pursue his dreams as a dancer.
"Mujhe maaf kardo Riaan.." Rey apologized.
"Maaf toh meine aapko bohot pehle hi kar diya tha dad. Lekin aapne jo kiya, usse mein bhula nahi paaya.." Riaan sniffed.
"I'm sorry son."
Riaan hugged Rey. He couldn't see his dad so sad.
"Maafi mujhse nahi.. shayad aapko kisi aur se maangni chahiye" Riaan said wiping his tears off.
Rey looked behind them and found a teary Anjali smiling at the two.
"I'm sorry Anjali.." Rey joked. The three shared a laugh. "Tum soch rahi hogi ki mein kitna bura insaan hoon."
"Nahi uncle, log bure thodi hote hai. Atche logon par bas bura waqt aa jaata hai."
"Matlab itna toh maanti ho ki mera waqt bura hai!"
"Dad.." Riaan laughed at how easily Rey could make the tensed atmosphere happy.
"Waise Riaan khana ready hogaya?"
"Yes dad kabka!"
"Then why are we waiting here? Let's go!" Rey left.
Riaan pulled Anjali's behind.
"Aaj tak mein dad se uss baare mein baat nahi kar saka.. Thanks."
"It's okay.."
"Aur agar tumne mere rone ke baare mein kisiko kuch bhi bataya, I'll kill you!"
"Okay" She giggled.
"No I'm serious, I'll kill you! I will" He said moving to the dinning area with her.
...
"Riaan tumhara term khatam huye ek mahina ho gaya hai. Wapas aane ka koi plan?" Taani asked over the phone.
"Agle hafte aa raha hoon na.."
"Badi meherbaani kar rahe ho!"
"Arre mom chill karo aap aur uss Swayam se kaho ki mera call receive kare!"
"Keh dungi. Tum batao, uss ladki ke baare mein tumne wapas baat hi nahi ki.."
"Waise uss ladki ka naam Anjali hai. Aur baat kya abh toh mein usse India la raha hoon aapse milwane!" He grinned.
"Chalo shukar hai. Mujhe toh laga ki uss weekend ke baad tera aur uska chapter close aur abhi kisi aur ko pata rakha hoga tune.."
"Mom aap apne bete ke baare mein aisa kaise soch sakti hai?"
"Voh kya haina, mein apne bete ko kuch jyada hi atche se jaanti hoon" She giggled.
"Aap na mera bas mazak udayiye!" He pouted.
"Harkate hi aisi hai tumhari, mazak na udau toh aur kya karu?"
"Riaan.." He heard Rey calling for him.
"Mom mein aapse baad mein baat karta hoon. Dad ko abhi agar meine khana nahi diya toh phir se nautanki shuru kar denge!" Riaan rolled his eyes and bidding her bye he disconnected the call.
"Kya hua dad? Itna chilla kyu rahe ho?" Riaan asked coming to the living room.
"Anjali ka phone tha. Vo yahan pahuch hi rahi hai. Pooch rahi thi if you are ready."
Before Riaan could answer, the doorbell rang. He asked her to wait till he gets his bags down.
"Uncle aap ready nahi huye? Airport nahi jaana hai? Chaliye jaldi ready ho jayiye." Anjali said as she sat next to him waiting for Riaan.
"Nai mein nahi aa raha.." Rey's voice was heavy.
"Kyu?"
"Mujhse bye nahi kaha jaata." Rey shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay I'm all set.." Riaan said coming down the stairs.
Rey stood up and helped him down with the bags.
"Thanks." Riaan thanked him. "Bye dad late ho raha hai, mujhe jaana hai."
"Have a safe flight." Rey hugged Riaan. "Love you." He added getting a smile on Riaan's face.
...
"Yeh kahan marr gaya?" Riaan checked the time in his watch for the hundredth time now.
"Hum yahan kiska wait kar rahe hai? I thought hum aunty ko surprise dene wale the." Anjali asked Riaan.
"Haan par meine Swayam ko bola tha hume pick karne aane. Pata nahi kahan marr gaya!"
"Mein barabar time pe aaya hoon. Tu for a change jaldi aagaya hai." A voice said from behind them.
"Swayam, mere bhai" Riaan hugged him tight while he made faces at him.
"Arre mujhe kya pata tha ki immigration itna jaldi ho jayega."
"Chal abhi bahane mat bana. Tune arrival time galat bataya tha mujhe." Swayam smacked him.
"Atcha abh chalo bhi, mom ko surprise karna hai!"
"Riaan, maana ki mein handsome hoon aur kaafi ladkiyaan mujhpar marti hai par tum inko mujhse introduce kara sakte ho!" Swayam said looking at Anjali who was standing quietly since the time he came.
"Oh sorry. Anji yeh hai mera best friend Swayam aur Swayam yeh hai Anjali!"
"Hi and congrats!" Swayam shook his hands with her.
"Congrats kyun?" Anjali asked.
"You tamed him!" Swayam said earning a smack from Riaan.
...
"Hey bhagwaan, yeh shaadi organize karna abh bohot irritate karne laga hai! Ek kaam time pe nahi ho raha!" Taani soloquized as she sat on the sofa to relax herself.
"Toh chod do ab yeh sab karna" Riaan said from the door.
"Riaan? Tu toh agle hafte aane wala tha na?" Taani was surprised to see him.
"Par abhi aagaya!" He grinned at her. "Kaisa laga mera surprise?"
"Milwao toh, phir batati hoon!" She said eyeing Anjali.
"Namaste aunty." She greeted awkwardly.
"Darwaze par kyu khadi ho, andar aao."
"Very nice choice!" Taani whispered to Riaan.
"Mom voh Anji yahan ek do din rehne wali hai. Phir voh apne flat mein shift hojayegi." Riaan informed.
"I won't mind agar voh yahin ruk jaaye.." Taani winked at them.
"Actually aunty voh flat do saalon se band hai isiliye voh saaf hone tak I'll stay here.." Anjali was finding it really awkward seeing Taani tease them.
"Tum dono jao thoda rest karo. Hum baadme baate karte hai."
"Mom aap kuch yummy sa khana banao na, bohot bhook lagi hai!" Riaan rubbed his stomach.
"Abh toh tum cook ban gaye ho. Khud hi kuch bana lo!"
"Mom aapke jaisa khana mein nahi bana sakta. Aapke haaton mein jaadu hai!"
"Chal abh aur maska na maar. Tu fresh hokar aa, mein kuch banati hoon."
After having lunch, Riaan went to sleep. Anjali was chatting with Taani.
"Aunty yeh aapke liye" Anjali handed her a box.
"Yeh formality ki kya jarurat thi?" Taani said opening the box.
"Riaan ke dad ne bheja hai.." Anjali said making the smile on Taani's face fade a bit.
"Oh.." Taani kept the bracelet in the box, closing it.
"Voh aapko bohot miss karte hai.." Anjali placed her hand on hers.
"Anji very bad!" Said Riaan coming from behind Taani. "Mein sabko humesha khush rakhta hoon aur yahan tum meri mom ko sad kar rahi ho. Mom I'm telling you she is a bad, bad girl!" Riaan pointed a finger at Anjali.
"Riaan?" Anjali reprimanded.
"What?"
"Shut up!" Taani giggled at the two.
...
A month had passed since Riaan and Anjali returned to India. Taani and Swayam were behind Riaan to get him married to Anjali. He kept avoiding the topic of marriage, especially in front of Anjali.
One day Riaan and Anjali were casually sitting in her flat and talking.
"Riaan tumse kuch poochu?" Anjali asked.
"Haan."
"Hum shaadi kab karenge? You know har ladki ki tarah mere bhi shaadi ko leke dher saare sapne hai. Mujhe laga tha ki India aane ke baad tum mujhe propose karoge. Par.." She stopped looking at him.
"Anji hum ek dusre se pyaar karte hai. Ek dusre ke saath hone ke liye shaadi ki kya jarurat hai?" He said unsure of what her reply would be.
"Sirf pyaar kaafi nahi hota Riaan.."
"Aur shaadi solution nahi hai!" saying so he left.
Anjali tried to convince him but he wouldn't budge. Taani was unaware of the strain in their relationship. She kept teasing Riaan about marriage at every occasion she got. This made him more restless.
"Riaan mein tumse aakhri baar poochungi.." Anjali had got fed up about his reluctance.
"Aur mein bhi tumse aakhri baar kahunga, mujhe shaadi nahi karni!" He yelled.
"Tum mujhse pyaar karte bhi ho?" She asked in disbelief.
"Nahi karta mein tumse pyaar aur nahi karni mujhe tumse shaadi! Khush?"
"Theek hai, toh mujhe bhi yahan rukne mein koi interest nahi hai. Good bye Riaan!"
"Good bye!" Riaan left banging the door.
...
"Riaan, naashta kar liya tumne?" Taani asked coming to the dining room to find him sitting with a far off gaze. He hadn't touched his plate. "Kya hai yeh? Haan? Do din se mein dekh rahi hoon, na tum kuch sunn rahe ho, na kuch keh rahe ho. Anjali ki bhi koi khabar nahi hai. Kya tum dono mein jhagda hua hai?" She asked getting concerned.
The phone rang. It was beside him. "Riaan can you pick up the phone please?" Seeing him not move, she got up and picked the call. "Hello? Hi Simmi how are you?" The doorbell rang then. "Yeah.. just a minute Simmi." She looked at him who gave a disinterested look. "Simmi I'll have to call you back later." She disconnected the call and moved towards the door to open it. "Riaan, na kuch keh rahe ho, na sunn rahe ho, na baat kar rahe ho, na phone utha rahe ho, darwaza bhi nahi khol rahe ho, bilkul apne baap pe gaye ho!" She finished opening the door.
"Aakhir beta kiska hai.." Rey said at the door.
"Aap.." Taani was taken by surprise on seeing Rey in front of her.
"Andar aa sakta hoon?" He asked.
Taani nodded and he came in to find Riaan lost.
"Riaan.."
"Dad? Aap yahan kya kar rahe hai?" He asked getting up.
"Seedha airport se tumse milne aaya hoon. Kaise ho?"
"Theek hoon." Riaan avoided looking into his eyes.
"Haan.. dikh raha hai! Anjali kaisi hai?" Rey gave a knowing look.
"Poochna kya chahate hai?" Riaan asked averting his gaze.
"Aao.. baitho.." Rey made him sit along with him. "Mein puchna yeh chahata hoon, ke kyu tum meri tarah apni zindagi se bhaag rahe ho?"
"Jee?"
"Dekho beta, meine apni neeji (personal) zindagi mein bohot galat faisle liye hai. Jinse mein pachtaya hoon. Mera paas duniya mein sabse khoobsurat, sabse atchi, sabse pyaari biwi thi.. lekin mein usse kabhi samajh hi nahi paaya. Aur jab iss baat ka ehsaas hua.. toh tab samjha ki meine kya paaya tha.. aur kya kho diya. Har baap ki khwaish hoti hai ki uska beta ussi ki tarah ho.. lekin mein duniya ka pehla baap rahunga jo har roz yahi dua karta hai ki mera beta mujh jaisa bilkul na ho. Tumhe dekh kar mujhe kabhi ehsaas hota hai.. ki kahi meine apni naakamiyabiyaan (unsuccessfulness) tumhe viraasat mein nahi de di? Kahin meri vajah se tum.. tumhe inn rishton par vishwas hi na ho? Lekin jab mein Anjali ko dekhta hoon, toh mera darr nikal jaata hai.. mujhe lagta hai ki woh hi mere bete ko meri parchaiyon (shadow) se alag kar degi. Kal mujhe Anjali ka phone aaya.. aur usne kaha ki woh humesha ke liye ja rahi hai. Aur usne aur kuch nahi kaha.. aur mein sab samajh gaya.. ki aakhir tu mera hi beta nikla! Iss tarah ek ladki ka pyaar bhara dil aur koi nahi tod sakta!"
"Pyaar? Mein Anji se pyaar karta hoon dad lekin.. voh mujh jaise ladke se kaise itna pyaar kar sakti hai ki shaadi kar le?"
"Inn auraton ki yahi baat toh hum samajh nahi paaye.. ki voh hum jaise bewakoofon se kaise pyaar kar sakti hai? Satra saal pehle meine ek aisi aurat ka dil toda tha jiski mujhe pooja karni chahiye thi. Aur upar wale ne mujhe dusra mauka kabhi nahi diya. Aur aaj tu wahi galati karne ja raha hai, par itna jaan le Riaan, woh tujhe bhi dusra mauka nahi dega!"
Taani had tears flowing down her face by now. Hearing Rey talk about his mistake made her heart bleed. Riaan on the other hand understood the meaning of Anjali in his life. He decided to follow his dad's advice and stop Anjali before she goes away forever. He got up and picked up his keys and wallet.
"Riaan, kahan ja rahe ho beta?" Taani knew where he was going yet felt the need to ask.
"Aapka beta hoon dad. Yeh dil ki baat zara der se samajhta hoon! Lekin ab jo samajh gaya, usse dhoodne mein satra saal nahi lagaunga!" He looked at Taani and left to stop the love of his life from going away.
Rey was still sitting in the same place. He moved his hands to his face to wipe off his tears. Taani wiped her face and walked to him. She needed no more words from him telling her how sorry he was for leaving her. She placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw her looking at him. She made him stand up.
"Dusra mauka hume upar wala nahi deta. Voh hume khud lena hota hai. Jaise mere bete ne liya hai." She said wiping away his tears.
"Humare bete ne!" Rey corrected her.
She nodded and hugged him tight. He too reciprocated making a promise to never leave her ever again.
Phir kya? Riaan ne Anjali ko jaane so roka aur uss se shaadi kar li. Aur Rey aur Taani ab saath rehte hai aur saath ghumte bhi hai. Rey abhi bhi dancer hai na!😉
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